As I near the fifth decade of my life, I am becoming more and more aware of my body and its vulnerabilities.

Surprisingly, I’ve begun to notice this vulnerability when texting. We’ve all been there: casually texting a friend and then, since we’re on the phone anyway, checking out new posts on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Before we know it, we’ve spent an hour on our phone.

I’ve noticed that when I allow myself to engage in this type of activity too long, I feel irritated and restless afterward—and, my neck aches.

“Text Neck”

This painful pinching feeling is known as “text neck,”and it’s said to come from the posture we assume while texting or looking down at our phone (or tablet) too frequently and for too long. Dr. Kenneth K. Hansraj, of New York Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, conducted a study on text neck and found that just 15 degrees of forward head posture almost doubles the weight of the head. He suggests that the position of the head while texting strains the muscles and structures of the neck, contributing to pain.

At the time of the study in 2014, Dr. Hansraj said he believed “text neck” to be an epidemic. “We’re seeing tons of patients who have neck pain,” he said, “and really when you look at the MRIs, they are fairly normal.”

It is interesting that “tons of patients” have found their way into a surgeon’s office complaining of neck pain with no major structural problems. It raises the question: are we considering the big picture when we say that it’s head position that causes pain? Is it possible our attitude plays a part in the stress and strain we place on our necks?

Identifying the Source

As a physical therapist, I’ve been trained to look for the source of someone’s pain. This often leads me to begin with the physical: which structures are involved, and how do these influence movement? Sometimes, this approach works; others, not so much. In these cases, our bodies might be telling us that the problem may be more than a tight muscle or aging joint.

Returning to text neck, if addressing physical posture alone cured our woes, the prevalence of neck pain should be decreasing, right? After all, stores sell expensive ergonomic chairs designed to fit the body and prevent pain; posture bras, thera-canes, and other devices are touted to reduce muscle strain and prevent slouching.

The truth is, our muscles don’t work independently from our brains, so these products can only do so much.

Our mood and emotions are expressed through our bodies; research supports the idea that there is a psycho-emotional component to pain. If we are sad, we slump. If we feel joy, our posture will appear more vital and alive. If we feel stressed, we may experience irritability, shallow breathing, fatigue, and/or lack of joy in life—all culminating in physical pain.

The way you are in the world influences those around you, just as others’ energy affects you. If we lack mind-body awareness, we won’t notice how mood, behavior, or environment influence our physiology and health.

In light of this, we must consider our environment and how it affects our mental and emotional health. Our world is pretty over-stimulating: 77 percent of Americans and over 40 percent of the world own a smartphone, and these tiny handheld computers have constructed a new level of social pressure and emphasis on instant gratification. We feel compelled to respond quickly to texts or tags, and the swish noise lets us know all day long that we have a mounting pile of emails to attend to. These incessant notifications do not foster clarity, focus, or patience—they are distractions pulling our attention away from the here and now.

While many of these apps arguably make our lives easier and more efficient, is attachment to our smartphone truly crucial for our livelihood? Or are we just listlessly searching for connection? Do we have real close relationships that have intimacy, meaning, and depth? Do we feel appreciated in our live and careers? Do we have a sense of purpose about our lives? A lack of these things in our lives may be more to blame than posture when it comes to neck pain.

Prevention

Below are my suggestions for preventing or reducing the effects of text neck. The combination of these things is intended to address the physical, emotional, and mental causes of pain:

1. Move. Adjust your position frequently during the day for both comfort and perspective. Staying in one position too long is not good for our muscles or our health. If we move the body in ways that counter our forward head position, we limit the effects of text neck. Check out this anti-text neck handout for how to do this safely and effectively.

2. Limit interruptions. Just because someone texts us does not mean we have to stop what we’re doing to respond and react. Remove apps from your phone or tablet that interrupt you or encourage you to engage unnecessarily. If we allow ourselves to consistently attend to interruptions, we are in chronic fight-or-flight mode. The stress that constant stimulation places on our nervous systems causes muscle tension, but may also contribute to other health problems like anxiety, depression, and heart disease. We have the ability to manage our interactions—so do so with care!

3. Practice mindfulness.Mindfulness is about bringing attention to the present moment while being fully aware of ourselves and our environment. Notice how your interactions affect your physical body and breath. Do you experience tension in your neck or resistance in your breath when interacting with certain people or performing certain tasks? Is the resistance justified or are you creating a story around what might happen if…? Being mindful helps us better discern how our thought patterns and behaviors affect us and those around us. With this awareness, we can then behave in a way that honors our path, rather than just reacting.

4. Carefully choose which social media groups you join. Do these groups support, educate, and inspire?

5. Leave your phone behind. Go for a walk, have lunch with a friend, or simply go several hours a day without electronic distraction—no explanation necessary.

Text neck may be a gift—our body’s way of letting us know that we are not present enough in our lives. The convenience of technology is undeniable, but we are still responsible for how we use it. “My favorite things in life don’t cost any money,” Steve Jobs said. “It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

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Christine Carr

Christine Carr is a physical therapist, yoga therapist and blog writer. She owns a physical therapy clinic in Evergreen, Colorado where she incorporates the ancient philosophy and science of yoga into her physical therapy treatments. Christine recovered from years of insomnia in the 90s through meditation and yoga, which gave her insight into the expansive and therapeutic world that goes beyond the physical. She has led and assisted yoga therapeutic workshops in both the United States and Canada. Christine enjoys travel and the outdoors. You can find her on Facebook, follow her blog, or learn more about her work on her website.

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